The Daily Spectrum from Saint George, Utah • 9

NATION The Spectrum Wednesday, March 29, 2000 A9 a 1.1 School bus, train crash kills 5 seriously hurt IBB A -iff "Serving The West Tumps 'Pipe St. George SC LZ Humcane 628-2626 1-800-789-4441 635-4441 injured girl from the wreckage. "I was shocked that she was still alive," he said. The crash is raising questions once again about the safety of rural, grade-level crossings. The one-lane crossing, just across the state line in Tennessee, had no warning lights or crossing arms, and the tracks curve through pine trees in hilly terrain, making it difficult to spot trains from the road.

It was unclear if the driver stopped at the tracks Georgia law requires school buses to stop at least 15 feet' from the tracks before crossing or took other precautions, such as opening the doors to listen for a train. The engineer told the Tennessee Highway Patrol he "blew his whistle, saw the bus approach the crossing, continued to blow his whistle By CHAD ROEDEMEIER Associated Press TENNGA, Ga. A freight train hauling automobiles tore a school bus off its wheels in a collision at an unprotected rural crossing early Tuesday, killing two children and critically injuring five. The train dragged the bus' battered yellow body about 100 yards. Some of the children were thrown to the gravel beside the tracks.

Others were found bloodied inside. It "sounded like thunder or a bomb blown up," said Joe Brown, who lives about 300 feet from the crossing. He said he found his best friend's daughter among the dead. John Watson, whose two sons had missed the bus that morning, arrived with the first emergency workers and helped pull one badly Alan Mothner AP Carl Helton of the Polk County fire department walks away from the site of a collision between a CSX freight train and a Murray County school bus after investigating the accident on Tuesday, in Tennga, Ga. Two children were killed and five were critically injured.

4-C nearly 90 percent since 1972, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Each day, about 150 cars pass over that and 13 trains pass the intersection, said Luanne Grandinetti, spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation. NaW? n- Buy Direct From The Manufacturer! Ceda City 5364646 Mesquite 702-346-6262 Alumawood Lattice Patio Covers Room Enclosures sLderSX. George (435) 688-8034 Mormon Church, hospital settle out of court in child abuse case wm map Iffirv (9 fjED (B (SXWB 78SK SZSIllfjTP pal mm msi oi pftM' Associated Press BECKLEY, W.Va. Lawyers for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Raleigh General Hospital have settled a $750 million child abuse case out of court.

The lawsuit accused the Mormon church of failing to report a case of child sexual abuse involving a church member in West Virginia. The trial was scheduled to begin next week in Raleigh County Circuit Court. Raleigh County Circuit Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick on Monday said the hospital and the church informed him late last week they had settled with the plaintiff for an undisclosed amount of money. Terms of the agreement will be presented for Kirkpatrick's approval at a summary proceeding on April 6.

James Adams, who is a For Over 70 Years 'Steel 'Welding 41 656-9000 Announcing a rate so great, you 11 want to zoom into action. and put the train in emergency stop, but was unable to stop before striking the bus," Trooper Ken Uselton said. Killed were Kayla Silvers, 6, and Daniel Pack, 9. Accidents between trains and highway vehicles have dropped couple's two children, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. The abuse became public when the children told a baby-sitter about it.

The baby-sitter tape-recorded the children's statements, then tried to extort $20,000 from the father, the lawsuit said. Faced with the extortion attempt, Adams told his fiancee and his father, who was a bishop in the Mormon church. The church has been sued at least 26 other times for its failure to report the sexual abuse of children, Michael Sullivan, a South Carolina lawyer who also is involved in the case, has said. Last year, Kirkpatrick ruled not to admit a 50-minute video of Adams committing sex acts on his daughter and 13-year-old son because, the judge said, he did not think any jury could view such "horrific" evidence and still be able to focus on the case. over the long term, it does carry a price tag of $35 million to implement this year.

Clinton has asked Congress to approve that amount for administrative costs and additional claims expected from people who delayed retirement because of the cap. Social Security Commissioner Kenneth Apfel said the agency's computers will identify which people are affected and who gets1 retroactive payments. People should only contact the agency, he added, if they've recently changed their address or their bank. About 7.5 million people between the ages of 62 and 70 who receive Medicare, Social Security or both will receive notices in the mail detailing the change. The bill is H.R.

5 On the Net: Congress: http:thomas.loc.gov Social Security Administration: http:www.ssa.gov Clinton intends to sign bill lifting the Social Security earnings limit Yoiir Chance to pick out the Season Tickets vou want! IMIVZ-zt I I I. I For ticket information call Mormon, pleaded guilty in 1994 to 37 counts of sexually abusing his daughter and son. He was sentenced to 1 30 years in prison. The lawsuit filed on the daughter's behalf alleges Blair Meldrum, who oversees 12 area Mormon congregations, knew the abuse was occurring but conspired with other church officials, including former Raleigh General Hospital Administrator Ken to keep it secret. In addition to being a church official, Holt was Adams' employer.

Other hospital employees also were told of the abuse, but no one reported it, the lawsuit said. According to the lawsuit, Adams and his wife, who now lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, divorced in 1988. The lawsuit alleged that the husband took custody of the children and moved to Beckley, where he began sexually abusing the ii They deserve the freedom to choose to work without losing their Social Security benefits," Rep. E. Clay Shaw prime sponsor of the bill.

Security Administration. The House had previously passed the bill unanimously, followed by the Senate 100-0 last week. The House's action Tuesday was necessary because of minor changes made by the Senate. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, called the legislation "long overdue" and said it demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans can work together.

"There are plenty of differences between our parties," Rangel said. "Certainly, there should be a lot of things we can agree on." Although the legislation would not affect the financial soundness of the Social Security trust fund No Appointment Necessary! Never a Sitting Fee! New Props Backdrops! mm St. George Commercial Center 793 S. Bluff St 435-674-50C9 Near Kmart By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press WASHINGTON Senior citizens age 65 to 69 will be able to earn as much outside income as they want without losing Social Security benefits under legislation given final passage Tuesday by the House. President Clinton intends to sign the bill into law.

'They deserve the freedom to choose to work without losing their Social Security benefits," said Rep. E. Clay Shaw, a prime sponsor of the bill. "It's their money. It should be their choice." The bill, passed on a 419-0 vote, repeals a Depression-era law that would have reduced Social Security payments by $1 for every $3 over $17,000 a beneficiary earns this year in wages.

About 800,000 people are directly affected, including 415,000 due refunds averaging $3,500 each because of deductions made since Jan. 1 from their Social Security. In all, older workers or their dependents stand to gain $6 billion in Social Security benefits this year, or $6,700 each on average, according to the Social TP Earlybird Easter Special! "free gift With every Easter Portrait Package! id )'' 1 if 'i i This Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, enjoy one of A 7- "1 i 4s- U.S.Bankf Make a point to stop by any branch or call 1-800-771-BANK and talk with one of our personal bankers. It three days that can bring great rewards for this year and beyond. That our way of saying we think all of our customers are pretty amazing.

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